Milltown Historical Society

Tag: Middlesex County New Jersey

This Day in History: June 27th, 1923

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This Day in History: June 27th, 1923

Safe, Recovered From Brook, Owned By N. J. Food Co.

Austin Walsh, district manager of the New Jersey Food Company stores, identified the Hall safe recovered from the Lawrence Brook at the Ryder’s Lane bridge yesterday as the type of safe stolen from the company’s store in Milltown recently and similar to one stolen from the Red Bank store of the company Saturday night of last week.

The manager of the Red Bank store will be called upon to identify the safe some time today. This type of safe is similar to that used in all New Jersey Food Company stores. Chief of the County Detectives, Ferd David, this morning stated that there was little doubt in his mind but that the same gang that stole the Milltown safe is responsible for the Red Bank robbery.

So far as can be learned, the thieves entered the Broad street store in Red Bank about midnight Saturday night. More than $500 is reported to have been in the safe. It is quite possible that the Milltown safe also has been deposited in the brook at Milltown.

Two Milltown men saw the safe thrown into the water and reported to the authorities.

The Red Bank police are working on the case from that end. Detective David is pushing the investigation and hopes to break up a gang that he believes to be responsible for a number of safe robberies in this vicinity.

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This Day in History: May 13th, 1922

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This Day in History: May 13th, 1922

FIND BODY OF MISSING MILLTOWNER

Believed That Aged Man Was Attacked With a Paralytic Stroke – Boy Scouts Aided in Search.

MILLTOWN, May 13.-Nicholas Heimel, sixty years old, of South Main Street, Milltown, who left his home shortly after the noon hour meal Thursday, was found drowned yesterday afternoon near Clancy’s Dock on a stream running in from the Raritan River on the estate owned by John Newmeyer, east of Weston’s Mills.

The searching party of police and Boy Scouts worked faithfully all day, in addition to a number of residents who made up a party and searched the woods in the near vicinity of the pumping station, the place where he was last seen.

The Boy Scouts had searched the surrounding property of the Newmeyer estate once during the day, but on their return Mr. Newmeyer and several other men joined in the search and soon the body of the missing man was found in the water near the dock.

The police immediately notified his wife and family.

Mr. Heimel only recently sold his farm on the outskirts of this place and moved to South Main Street to live with his son John. He had not been enjoying the best of health and was greatly worried over financial affairs, however, seemingly not really despondent. He partook of dinner at noon Thursday, and immediately afterward started out for a walk.

Failing to return late in the afternoon, his family became alarmed and soon a searching party was made up and at work.

Councilman Jos. Herbert, chairman of the police committee, sent Marshals Buehl and Stutz to work and during the night and all day yesterday carried provisions to them and others that were assisting so that no time would be lost.

There is much credit due the Boy Scouts under the leadership of Albert Heim, and the police department for their diligent efforts in finding the old man.

The deceased is survived by his wife and two sons, Conrad and John, all of this place. He also leaves a daughter, residing in Trenton.

Coroner John V. Hubbard made an investigation and expresses the belief that Mr. Heimel was attacked with a paralytic stroke, and fell into the stream. The deceased had suffered a stroke several months ago. He was accustomed to taking long walks and usually went unaccompanied.

The funeral will be held from his late home, 372 Main Street, Milltown, on Monday afternoon, and Undertaker Hubbard will direct.

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This Day in History: April 30th, 1906

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This Day in History: April 30th, 1906

WE MAY HAVE AN EARTHQUAKE

But There Is No Probability of a Bad One, Says W. S. Valiant—Milltown Center of a Geological Movement That May Cause a Convulsion.

Is New Brunswick liable to have a serious earthquake? A good many people have asked each other that question in the last two weeks. A Home News reporter asked it of W. S. Valiant, curator of Rutgers College and an authority on geology. Mr. Valiant said that this section was liable to earthquakes and has had them, but how serious one might come here was impossible to come anywhere near guessing.

“The San Francisco earthquake,” said Mr. Valiant, “was caused by a sudden movement in what is known in geology as a fault. This is a fissure in the earth’s crust which has become detached from the adjoining strata.

“There are two very large faults in the San Francisco peninsula and it was a sudden movement in one of them that caused the earthquake there.

“These faults are found in all parts of the world where the surface is broken up by rough, mountainous country. A large fault exists under the Harlem River, where the Croton aqueduct crosses. A serious movement in this would cut off New York’s water supply just as was San Francisco’s in the recent shock. There are several faults in New Jersey’s strata, a small one existing in New Brunswick, near Fox’s Gully. Of course, the larger the fault, the more serious the earthquake it could cause. This season, however, is far less liable to earthquakes than is the Western coast of the country. It is a well-established fact that the older the land is, the less liable it is to earthquakes. We are living on the edge of the oldest land that exists in the world. The Adirondack mountains were the first land to appear above the water, with the possible exception of the rock of Gibraltar. The first continent reached out from the Adirondacks as far west as Wisconsin and as far south as Tennessee. All the rest of North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, all made their appearance later. Of course, the growth of other parts has been much more rapid than this and that is why the Rockies, the Andes, and Himalayan mountains are so much higher than the Appalachians.

“All the time, however, the land is growing up along the borders of the continents and this edge of North America is no exception. There is a slow movement going on which raises this country higher and higher above sea level. This is accomplished by the silt carried down by the rivers to the ocean and the building up along the ocean has the effect of squeezing back the land. The center of this movement, as far as can be ascertained, is at Milltown. If there is ever any very serious convulsions of the earth in New Jersey, Milltown is liable to be the center of it. The movement now going on must result sometime in a new range of mountains being thrown up on the Atlantic coast and one of these eminences will be where Milltown now stands. Of course, all this is in the far distant future, countless ages ahead. It is not likely that anyone now living will see even the slightest indication of the upheaval that is bound to come in this neighborhood. That the land is rising, however, requires no other proof than the Raritan River affords. There are men now living who can remember when there was enough water in the river to float large vessels up to the Landing bridge; indeed, the bridge got its name from the boats unloading there. But I would like to see anything but the smallest boats get up there now. This is not because the river has filled up with deposits, but because the bed has risen at least three feet, within the memory of men now living in this city.”

Mr. Valiant said that the earthquake question need not trouble anyone here, because it is only a possibility. It is impossible to tell when an earthquake will occur, geologists can only indicate the places where they can occur.

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This Day in History: April 29th, 1904

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This Day in History: April 29th, 1904

PUBLIC SERVICE WILL LIGHT MILLTOWN

Contracts Awarded Last Night – Electric Lights to Be Installed.

MILLTOWN, April 29 – At a special meeting of the Borough Council of Milltown, held in Red Men’s Hall last night, it was decided to illuminate the place with electric incandescent lamps. The matter of lighting the borough has long been a cause of dispute at the meetings of the board.

It was deemed that the lights now in use are inadequate, as they are only stationed on the side of the pond known as North Milltown, while on the opposite side, where the population is as great, there are none.

The old lights now in use do not throw enough light to compensate for the expense of keeping them. This was a matter of dispute among the councilmen at many meetings, several of them believing that by purchasing an additional number they could be made to answer the purpose satisfactorily. A test was also made with gasoline, but as the results received from them did not meet the demands of the board, the question of installing them was speedily dropped.

It was then decided that the only lights which could give entire satisfaction were electric.

Figures for the cost of construction and power were received from Sayre & Fisher Company, of Sayreville, but after considering the matter it was determined to advertise for bids and get the figures of several companies.

The only bids received were from the Public Service Company for furnishing current, and Mr. Lansley, of Woodbridge, for construction of poles and wire. The contracts were both awarded to the two companies.

There will be three and one-half miles of wire and poles distributed about the borough, with about sixty lights, a number which is thought to be enough to light the place from end to end including the side streets.

There will be a very slight increase in the tax rate, as the surplus in the borough treasury is almost sufficient to meet the expenses which will be incurred by the construction of the line.

Great credit is due Mayor Riva and several of the council for their efforts in bringing the question to a satisfactory terminus, after months of arguing and disputing.

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This Day in History: April 17th, 1914

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Milltown Grange Recreational Group September 23 1937

Many at Spring Session of Middlesex and Somerset Pomona Granges Held Here

MILLTOWN, April 17. – A largely attended and most interesting Spring session of the Middlesex and Pomona Grange was held between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Junior Mechanics’ Hall, Milltown, yesterday, with representatives from South Branch, New Market, Middlebush, Plainsboro, and Milltown granges present. During the morning session, simply routine business was transacted. At 12 o’clock, a delightful luncheon was served by the ladies of the Milltown Grange.

During the afternoon session, resolutions of respect were drawn and read on the death of a deceased brother, B. DeWitt Giles, of the New Market Grange. Telephone messages were sent to two brothers who were unable to attend owing to illness, namely, Master Van Nest, of the Raritan Valley Grange, of South Branch, and Prof. A.L. Clark, lecturer of the Milltown Grange.

The literary program consisted of the following:

“Corn Growing in Different States” by John B. Voorhees (Of the Experiment Station of New Brunswick)
“Corn Growing Contest to Be Run by the Middlesex Board of Agriculture in Middlesex County” by Bro. George B. Redshaw
Reading, “Take No Notice,” by Mrs. Schaffer (Of the Raritan Valley Grange, South Branch)
Essay “On Bones,” written by a schoolboy and read by Mrs. H. Kline, of the Somerset Grange, of Middlebush
“Good of the Order” by David Perrine (Of New Market Grange)
Music was furnished by the Milltown Grange Orchestra, consisting of Mrs. Cosgrove, of Weston Mills, pianist; George Redshaw, of Weston Mills, violinist; John Cruit, of New Brunswick, cornetist.

Three new applications for membership were received during the session. Tonight, at the Methodist Church, the Epworthians will hold a rally, which promises to surpass any held before, as assurances have been received from a number of neighboring leagues that they will send a delegation, especially the St. James Leaguers, of New Brunswick, who will turn out strong to hear their pastor, Rev. J.P. Carman, make the principal address of the evening. As already stated, there will also probably be something interesting heard from other visiting pastors and, in addition to the usual rally speeches, there will be refreshments served in the lecture room of the church and a general social time will be enjoyed.

Walters Guards have been granted the use of the Crescent’s reading room for their dance, which is to be held in Red Men’s Hall next Wednesday evening.

Personals and Other Notes:

Charles Denhard, secretary of the Liquor Dealers’ Protective Association, attended a meeting of that body held in Carteret yesterday. Mr. Denhard is contemplating improvements to his hotel surroundings here by the removal of two large trees on the sidewalk and the laying of a concrete walk.
The Tamakwa Camp Fire Girls were entertained at the home of the Misses Glock last evening.
The L.C.S. was entertained at the home of Miss Anna Hoffer last night.
Mrs. Ernest Yahnall and Mrs. Ida Hermann were New York visitors yesterday.
William Kaiser, who has been visiting in Albany, N.Y., has again returned to his home.
The Cheerful Circle was entertained at the home of Mrs. C. Bennett in New Brunswick on Wednesday.
Jackson Barraud has returned from a visit with his parents at his home in Mt. Sinai, N.Y.
E. Jumet, of the Michelin Tire Company, recently purchased an Overland auto.

What is a grange anyway? https://newjerseygrange.com/about.html

Did you know?

The Middlesex County Fair was founded by the Milltown Grange in 1938 as a successor to their Flower and Crop Show which had been held at the Grange in 1937. Incorporated as a non-profit organization, the original Trustees had to be members of the East Brunswick Grange. The Grange had been in the process of changing their name having moved to East Brunswick in 1936 to the new Grange Hall built near the corner of Dunhams Corner Road and Ryders Lane – which was the home of the Raritan Valley YMCA until it was sold in 2003. Fred Gauntt, Master of the Grange at that time appointed H. Earl Propst as Fair Chairman and Fred C. Heyl as Secretary-Treasurer of the fair. Heyl remained Secretary-Treasurer until his death in 1956. https://middlesexcountyfair.com/history/

George McGinnis at a Loss to Know Who Robbed Him

MILLTOWN, April 17 – Upon awakening yesterday morning, George McGinnis, of South Milltown, discovered that one of the cleverest burglaries he had ever heard of had been performed during the night at his own home. The visitor or visitors made entrance through a window in his bedroom, ransacking his trousers and then going downstairs to his daughter’s apartment, Mrs. Jennie Steins, and getting away with a loot comprising some thirty-two dollars, a sum of change, and two gold watches, which Mr. McGinnis had purchased to make presents with.

Mr. McGinnis said he didn’t care so much about the money but he did care a great deal about the two watches which were engraved with the initials of the parties to whom they were to be presented. He said that one was to have been presented to his daughter and another to some other little girl.

In going through Mr. McGinnis’s trousers, the burglars secured a twenty-dollar bill, a two-dollar bill and some change, and the other ten dollars were secured from the daughter’s room downstairs.

The Entrance

The method by which the robber gained entrance was one of the cleverest stunts ever attempted hereabouts, and the methods involved would lead to suspicion. The visitors went to Mr. McGinnis’s own barn, found a stick about 3×4 inches and about 16 feet long, and on this single stick nailed about six slats forming such a ladder as would enable them to reach the second-story bedroom window on the side of the house where they had entered.

Mr. McGinnis said that his trousers were near the window and that they could have reached for them from the outside without entering the house. The front door was found open yesterday morning, as was a cellar window, but it is believed they made their exit by way of the front door.

In the shed or barn where this stick was found, whereby the burglars made their ladder, there was also a dog, but the visitors evidently made friends with this guardian and yesterday morning he was found on the front porch. It was also said that, much to the surprise of Mr. McGinnis, a lamp was found in his bedroom when he awoke yesterday morning, which he is positive was not there when he retired the night before.

Just what time the burglary occurred is not known. Mr. McGinnis said that both he and his daughter were out in the early evening and he returned to retire about 11 o’clock, and during the night he heard nothing whatever that would cause him to think there was any mischief going on.

When asked by a Home News reporter whether he suspected anyone, Mr. McGinnis replied, “Certainly, sure. But I didn’t catch them in the act, so I can’t do anything in the matter just now.”

He said, “I don’t care so much about the money, but I do care a whole lot about the watches, and whoever did get them won’t dare to wear them for they had been inscribed with initials of the parties to whom they were to be given.”

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This Day in History: January 5th, 1907

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This Day in History: January 5th, 1907

Noted Armless Man is Dead

John Fuchs, of Milltown, Who Hunted, Fished, and Rowed, Succumbs to Paralysis.

MILLTOWN, Jan. 5 – John Fuchs, the armless man of Milltown, died this morning at 8 o’clock. He was almost seventy-nine years of age. He was struck with paralysis on New Year’s Day and had been unconscious since. He leaves a younger brother, Michael Fuchs, of Highland Park, and his only child, Mrs. Katherine Kuhlthau, wife of the postmaster, with whom he had been living for many years.

Mr. Fuchs came from Germany some forty-one years ago and was soon employed in the old Meyer rubber grinding mill, which stood where the powerhouse now is. About a year after, both hands were drawn in between rollers; the left arm was pulled out at the socket and the right had to be cut off near the elbow.

A hook was fastened to this stump and with this, he has done marvelous things ever since. He shot four rabbits this December, one of them running. Fishing was a favorite sport each summer. For years he could be seen daily sculling his boat about the pond after the scaly inhabitants there.

Rev. W. T. Barny will have charge of the funeral services, the time of which is set for 2 o’clock Monday afternoon.

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